Tape dispensing device



Sept. 3, 1957 L. R. M KENZIE TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1955INVENTOR. Z5 2 44 1 0714 F// Z'7rzz Jfimb 707N373 United States Patent2,804,971 TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE Leona R. McKenzie, Port Huron, Micli.

Application April 5, 1955, Serial No. 499,427

3 Claims. (Cl. 2.06-51) This invention relates to dispensing devicesand, more particularly, to an improved device for dispensing tape andthe like.

An object of the invention is to overcome disadvantages in prior devicesof the indicated character and to provide an improved tape dispensingdevice which may be conveniently employed as an advertising medium.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tapedispensing device which is compact and which may be conveniently carriedin a pocket or purse.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tapedispensing device that is relatively simple in construction, economicalto manufacture and assemble, durable, and pleasing in appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tapedispensing device incorporating improved means for holding a relativelylarge quantity of tape of various sizes and colors.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tapedispensing device incorporating improved means for severing the tape indesired lengths.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved tapedispensing device which is relatively inexpensive; which is adapted tohold and protect tape; and which may be widely distributed with aminimum of expense.

The above as well as other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the fol lowing description, theappended claims and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view, with portions broken away, of one embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, takenon the line 22 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, takenon the line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the in vention, showingthe same in the closed position; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, showingthe same in the open or tape dispensing positlOI'l.

Referring to the drawing, one embodiment of the invention is illustratedin Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and is comprised of a cover member, generallydesignated 10, which may be formed of cardboard, plastic or othersuitable material. The cover includes a front panel 12, a back panel 14and a retaining panel 16, the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 beingintegrally joined by a bight portion 18 while the back panel 14 and theretaining panel 16 are integrally joined by a bight portion 20. In theembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the panels12, 14 and 16 are substantially rectangular in plan View, and thedimensions of the front panel 12 and.the back panel 14 are preferablysuch that the retaining panel 16 overlaps the free end of the frontpanel 12 when the cover member is in the closed position, as best shownin Figs. 1 and 3.

A relatively thin, substantially flat support member 22 is providedwhich, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is substantiallyrectangular in plain view. The support member 22- may be formed ofplastic, cardboard 2,8u45,9 7l Patented Sept. 3, 195"? "ice or othersuitable material having sufiicient strength to Withstand the forcesexerted thereon. One end portion of the support member 22 is insertedbetween the retaining panel 16 and the back panel 14 of the cover member10, and the support member is fixed to the cover member at a positionnear the bight portion 2% thereof, as by the staple 23. The edges 24 and26 of the support member 22 extend in substantially parallelrelationship with respect to the edges 28 and 30 of the cover member 10,and the edges 24 and 26 terminate in inwardly spaced relationship withrespect to the edges 28 and 30. The end 32 of the support member 22terminates in spaced relationship with respect to the bight portion 18of the cover member.

The dispensing device embodying the present invention is particularlyadapted to hold, protect, and dispense pressure-sensitive tapes,although it will be understood that the present invention is applicableto other uses. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.1, 2 and 3, strips of tape 34 and 36 are wound transversely around thesupport member 22, the strips 34 and 36 being of any a desired length.The strips 34 and 36 may vary in width,

may be of varying colors, or have other distinguishing characteristics,if desired. For example, one of the strips may be substantiallytransparent while the other strip may be provided with a decorativecoloring.

In order to facilitate dispensing the strips of tape 34 and 36 from thesupport member, a pair of cutter bars 38 and 40 are provided, which maybe formed of metal, plastic, abrasive material or other suitablematerial. The cutter bars 38 and 40 are preferably provided Withserrations 42 in the longitudinal outer edges thereof, and the cutterbars 38 and 40 are secured to opposite sides of the back panel 14 of thecover member 10 so that the serrated edges of the cutter bars aredisposed in outwardly spaced relationship with respect to the adjacentlongitudinal edges of the back panel 14 of the cover member 10. Anysuitable means may be employed to fix the cutter bars to the back panel14. For example, the cutter bars may be provided with tabs 43 which areinserted through apertures in the back panel and thereafter bent againstthe side of the back panel 14 remote from the cutter bar.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the longitudinal edgesof the back panel 14 are indented, as at 44, While the longitudinaledges of the front panel 12 are substantially straight, with the resultthat the serrated edges of the cutter bars 38 and 40 are substantiallyaligned with the longitudinal edges of the front panel 12 of the covermember 10. Such construction serves to guard and protect the serratededges of the cutter bars when the cover member 10 is in the closedposition.

The exposed surfaces of the cover member 10 may be imprinted withadvertising matter or other suitable indicia of anydesired character.When the cover member 10 is in the closed position, as illustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3,

, the front and back panels 12 and 14 of the cover member 10 serve toprotect the tape and the marginal side portions of the front panel 12also serve to protect the cutter bars 38 and 40 and guard the serratededges thereof.

When it is desired to dispense the tape, the cover member 10 is openedby removing the free end of front panel 12 from its positionintermediate the retaining panel 16 of the most convenient cutter bar 33or 40. An important tothe adjacent edges of the support member 22, withthe advantage of the applicants construction resides in the fact thatthe serrated edges of the cutter bars 38 and 40 terminate in outwardlyspaced relationship with respect result that a tape lead projectsoutwardly from the sides of the support member after the tape has beencut off, thereby facilitating subsequent grasping of the tape.

After the tape has been dispensed, the cover member 10 may be readilyclosed by inserting the free end of the front panel 12 between theretaining panel 16 and the support member 22.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Inthis embodiment of the invention, a pair of cover members 50 and 52 areprovided which may be formed of cardboard, plastic or other suitablematerial, the cover members 50 and 52 being relatively thin andsubstantially rectangular in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated. One end portion of the cover member 50 is fixed to one endportion of the cover member 52 so that the cover members aresubstantially superimposed and extend in substantially parallelrelationship. An c n enien means ma e pl y d for fastening the covermembers together. For example, the cover members may be fastenedtogether with staples 55. A support member 54 is provided which isinterposed between the cover members 50 and 52, one end portion of thesupport member 54 being fixed to the cover members, as, for example, bythe staples 55. The longitudinal edge portions of the support member 52extend in substantially parallel relationship with respect to thelongitudinal edge portions of the cover members, and terminate ininwardly spaced relationship with respect thereto.

Strips of tape 56, 58 and 60 are wound on the support member 54 so as toextend transversely thereof, the strips of tape being of any desiredlength. The strips of tape may vary in size, color, or have otherdistinguishing characteristics, and may have pressure-sensitivesurfaces, if desired.

In order to facilitate dispensing the tape from the support member 54,the cover member 50 is provided with a cutter bar 62 having a serratededge 64 terminating in outwardly spaced relationship with respect to theadjacent edge 66 of the cover member 50. The cover member 52 is alsoprovided with a cutter bar 68 having a serrated edge 70 disposed inoutwardly spaced relationship with respect to the edge 72 of the covermember 52. The cutter bars 62 and 68 may be fixed to the cover membersby tabs 69 which are inserted in apertures in the cover members andthereafter bent against the outer surfaces of the cover members. Theedge 74 of the cover member 52 preferably terminates in outwardly spac drelationship with respect to the serrated edge 64 of the cutter bar 62,and the edge 76 of the cover member 50 preferably termimates inoutwardly spaced relationship with respect to the serrated edge 70 ofthe cutter bar 68 when'the cover em ers 50 and 52 r n e im se r la i shp Such a construction serves to guard the serrated edges of the cutterbar when the cover members are in the closed position.

In order to facilitate holding the closure members 50 and 52 in theclosed position, a resilient retaining member 78 is provided which maybe formed of rubber or other suitable material. The retaining member 78is preferably in the form of a closed loop having a portion thereoffixed to the cover members, as, for example, by one of the staples 55.In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the retaining member 78is adapted to encompass the cover members 50 and 2, as shown in Fig. 4,so as to retain the cover members in substantially parallelrelationship.

In this embodiment of the invention, each of the cover members 50 and 52defines a plurality of spaced aligned apertures 80 which are adapted tocoincide with the strips of tape when the cover members are in theclosed position. Such a construction exposes the various strips of tapewhen the cover members are in the closed position, and at the same time,provides a decorative and pleasing appearance, particularly if thestrips of tape are of varying color or have other distinguishingcharacteristics.

In using this embodiment of the invention, the retaining member 78 isutilized to maintain the cover members in the closed position, aspreviously described. When it is desired to dispense tape from thesupport member 54, the retaining member 78 is grasped and pulled overone corner portion of the tape dispensing device so that the covermembers may be swung angularly with respect to each other to the openposition, The desired tape is then unwound from the support member 54 tothe desired length and the tape may be cut off by pulling the tapeagainst the most convenient cutter bar 62 or 68. Since the serratededges 64 and 70 of the cutter bars 62 and 68 are disposed in outwardlyspaced relationship with respect to the longitudinal edges of thesupport member 54, a tape lead projects outwardly from the sides of thesupport member after the tape has been cut off, thereby facilitatingsubseqeunt grasping of the tape.

The exposed surfaces of the cover members 50 and 52 and the exposedsurfaces of the support member 54 may be imprinted or provided withother indicia, if desired. While preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been shown and described, it will be understood that various otherchanges and modifications may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tape dispensing device, the combination comprising asubstantially flat support member, a cover member adjacent said supportmember, one end portion of said cover member being fixed to one endportion of said support member, the marginal side portions of said covermember terminating in outwardly spaced relationship with respect to themarginal side portions of said support member, and a pair of cutter barseach having a cutting edge, said cutter bars being fixed to said covermember whereby said cutting edges extend in outwardly spacedsubstantially parallel relationship With respect to the marginal sideportions of said support member.

2. In a tape dispensing device, the. combination including asubstantially fiat support member, a pair of substantially fiat covermembers, said support member being interposed between said cover membersand having one end portion thereof fixed to the adjacent end portion ofeach of said cover members, a pair of cutter bars, one of said cutterbars being fixed to each of said cover members at a position adjacentone longitudinal edge thereof, the other longitudinal edge of each ofsaid cover members terminating in outwardly spaced relationship withrespect to the outermost edge of said cutter bars, and means formaintaining said support member and said cover members in substantiallyparallel relationship.

3. In a tape dispensing device, the combination including asubstantially flat support member, a pair of substantially flat covermembers, said support member being interposed between said cover membersand having one end portion thereof fixed to the adjacent end portion ofeach of said cover members, the longitudinal edge portions of saidsupport member terminating in inwardly spaced relationship with respectto the longitudinal edge portions of said cover members, a pair ofcutter bars, one of said cutter bars being fixed to each of said covermembers at a position adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, the otherlongitudinal edge of each of said cover members terminating in outwardlyspaced relationship with respect to the outermost edge of said cutterbars, and resilient means for maintaining said support member and saidcover members in substantially parallel relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,005,676 Hanover June 18, 1935 2,109,318 Lichter Feb. 22, 19382,242,114 Cramer et al. May 13, 1941 2,559,156 Hewes July 3, 1951

